Holmes' double gold - hailed as one of the finest achievements in British track and field history - boosted the British athletics squad, with Kelly Sotherton's bronze in the heptathlon and gold for the men's 4x100m squad the only other successes.

But Britain were the most successful nation in sailing where they won two golds, a silver and two bronze medals.

Shirley Robertson, who skipped the victorious Yngling crew in Athens, will return home with her second gold medal after also triumphing in Sydney.

And Pinsent provided one of the most memorable moments of the Games when he broke down in tears on the podium as he collected his fourth consecutive gold.

Leaving aside the boycotted 1984 Games, it was the best British medal tally since Paris in 1924.

The enthusiasm of GB fans could help London's 2012 bid

A spokesman for the British Olympic Association said the team had exceeded expectations.

"More than three months ago we set out our objectives," he said.

"Set in the context of the emergence of China as a sporting superpower and the former Soviet states, we said an excellent result for the country, for British sport and for our Olympic bid, would be between six and nine gold medals and 25 medals in total.

"We have exceeded our objectives."

He said the success, as well as the enthusiasm of British fans in Athens, would improve London's chances of winning its bid to hold the 2012 Games.